Bible Time

The Pope's Visit to Saint Louis

At the height of the impeachment debate in the United States Senate, the Lord sent the Pope to warn Americans of what was going on. The details of the visit were right from the story. Did Americans listen? No.

Background

Saint Louis is home to the oldest Catholic cathedral in the United States, having been established when the French controlled the Mississippi river basin in the early 1700's. Saint Louis' most famous landmark is the Gateway Arch, signifying Thomas Jefferson's purchase of western lands from France. It was from here that Louis and Clark made their famous expedition to the Pacific Ocean.

On January 26, 1999, the Pope arrived in this old Catholic city to deliver a message to the nation. Over 100,000 people showed up in person, television carried the event for those far away and even President Clinton himself showed up to host this very important guest.

The Pope's agenda

The Pope had the better part of two very busy days in Saint Louis. The most impressive act that he performed while in Saint Louis was leading of communion with an estimated 100,000 people in attendance. This was one of the largest communion services ever held indoors.

The Pope's visit to the United States provided the prophetic fulfillment of many of the elements of the Sodom and Gomorrah story. What follows are highlights:

• Lot met God's messengers at the gate to the city of Sodom.¹

  • The Pope visited the gateway city.

• Lot served his guests a meal of unleavened bread² the bread of communion.

  • The Pope led a record breaking indoor communion.

• The servants of the Lord spent one night in Lot's city.³

  • The Pope spent one night in Saint Louis.

• The crowds of Sodom accused the visitor of having no legitimacy.⁴

  • The Pope, as always, received the taunts of many Protestants reflecting a several centuries old wound from the division of the Church.

• The angels were sent to Sodom to warn and to test.

  • The Pope's speech clearly warned of a time of national testing. His focus was on the death penalty and abortion.

The Message

The Pope's message clearly focused on abortion and murder. He was also clear that the nation was undergoing a time of national testing. His host, President Clinton, was the target and the Lord had effectively sent a prophet to speak publicly right to the president's face.

The punishment for abortion, on God's books, is simple. God demands an accounting for innocently shed blood. Those who shed blood, will have their blood shed. Unless, of course, Jesus' blood substitutes. It is unlikely that Jesus' blood would substitute for the 40,000,000+ babies murdered by abortion in the United States since it was made legal, but it is possible.

The Pope's message could have linked Abortion to the capital punishment God has in store for those involved in this sin, but the Pope's theology is so strongly opposed to capital punishment that he could not give that message. Instead the Pope gave two messages, one on abortion and one on capital punishment.

The Pope visited on January 26, 1999. Two and a half weeks later, February 12, 1999 The Senate still could not muster the votes to remove the President from office. The United States Congress would not listen, even to the Pope. By accepting the sin of the President, the nation had revealed it now considers this sort of sin acceptable. The nation had failed God's test.

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¹Genesis 19:1    
²Genesis 19:3    
³Genesis 19:2    
⁴Genesis 19:9